The Black & Gold are handling business in the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup and currently sit in first place with one match remaining. Saturday’s match against Minnesota United FC is set for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff at MUSC Health Stadium.
Crew SC will enter Saturday’s match fresh off a 2-1 victory over United Soccer League’s Charleston Battery on Wednesday. Despite the hosts taking the lead in the first half, a Gyasi Zardes brace (56’, 82’) would see the Black & Gold victorious.
The Black & Gold faced the Loons once during the 2017 MLS regular season for a 1-0 victory. Crew SC will see a few other familiar faces on Saturday including Ethan Finlay and Matt Lampson. Finlay, who was chosen by the club in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, was with Crew SC from 2012 to 2017. Former Crew SC Homegrown Player, Lampson was with the Black & Gold from 2012 to 2015. Parkhurst, who, in 2014, became the first Crew SC player to be named to the MLS All-Star Team in four years, was with Columbus from 2014 to 2016.
Saturday’s match will be the final match of the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup, as well as the 2018 preseason. The Black & Gold kickoff the 2018 MLS regular season on the road against Toronto FC on March 3 before returning to MAPFRE Stadium on March 10 for their home opener against Montreal Impact.
